Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/844299
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 2 JULY 2017 Events 45 XEN implant consists of a small tube – 6mm long and the thickness of a human hair – which is inserted into the eye with a pre-packed injector A new glaucoma procedure was performed for the first time in Malta earlier this month, as part of a surgeon training session or- ganized by Allergan. The new XEN implant forms part of Al- lergan's eye care portfolio distrib- uted by Vivian Corporation. A total of five patients had the new XEN implants inserted into their eyes. This consists of a small tube – 6mm long and the thick- ness of a human hair – which is inserted into the eye with a pre- packed injector. XEN is indicated to reduce eye pressure in patients whose glaucoma is not well-man- aged with eye drops. These surgeries were performed by ophthalmic surgeons Mario Vella and Francis Carbonaro at Mater Dei Hospital, after receiv- ing training at St James Eye Clinic prior to the intervention. Carbonaro said: "It is a very safe alternative to the more traditional glaucoma surgery, and we are pleased that all five cases did very well and had a very significant re- duction in eye pressure". New glaucoma implants now available in Malta CareMalta, opera- tor of nine homes for the elderly across Malta, organ- ised a role change day event where management took on various roles to experience and ap- preciate everyone's position within the company while also understanding the importance of each and every individual. CareMalta's CEO Natalie Briffa Farru- gia, facility manag- ers and top manage- ment took on this challenging day with a smile and spent the day carrying out their different duties with all the challenges involved. Briffa Farrugia highlighted that role change day at Caremalta was one of the best days in the calendar of events. "For me it is the opportunity for us as management team to get a hands on experience at the differ- ent role we have within our dif- ferent facilities," she said. "It gives us a chance to be with the people, feel their emotions, carry a part of their burden and treasure the mo- ments of living the moment with all. The staff are always enthused to see us in the different gear – not the normal blazer but the polo shirt or the aprons." James Sciriha, CareMalta's Di- rector of Finance spent his day working as a kitchen assistant at Casa San Paolo. "In my circumstance I happened to know the Cook so it made it eas- ier. You get exposure also to what actually happens in all the other departments. It is also very posi- tive for the employees to see the Management getting their hands dirty and help out," he said. "What I liked most was the fact that the employees open up and try to deliver the message about the difficulties they face. This was a very nice and positive ex- perience for me as now I have a better insight of Casa San Paolo and its operational difficulties." Other managers took on vari- ous roles in the laundry depart- ment and reception or as active ageing facilitators, care assis- tants and cleaners. All the participants had positive comments about the event as it turned out to be a great success. Although it is illegal to use a handheld phone at the wheel, an average of 2,000 drivers are fined every month for using mobile phones whilst driving. Research shows that drivers are four times more likely to be in an accident if they use a phone whilst driving, reaction time is three times slower when texting and a split second lapse could re- sult in an accident. The main purpose of the #Pu- tItAway campaign is avoiding accidents by creating awareness on the dangers of using mobile whilst driving. The campaign has been de- signed by Bay Radio and it is determined to make the Maltese roads safer by encouraging mo- torists to avoid using handheld phones while driving with the #putitaway campaign.The cam- paign will run throughout the summer months as a constant reminder to put the phone away before starting the engine. Fundación MAPFRE supports this campaign as part of its works to drive economic, social and cultural improvements on societies wherein the MAPFRE group of companies is present. The Fundación's operations focus on five areas: Accident Prevention and Road Safety, Insurance and Social Protec- tion, Culture, Social Action and Health Promotion. "We are pleased to contribute towards such a campaign, be- cause it is extremely important to instill a culture of preventing accidents" said Felipe Navarro, MAPFRE Middlesea CEO. As part of the campaign an informational website has been created on www.putitaway.com. mt highlighting the danger of texting whilst driving and using the phone. This campaign is also been supported by Transport Malta, the Malta Road Safety Council and the Ministry of Health. In someone else's shoes for a day Fundación MAPFRE supports #PutitAway campaign against texting and driving Mario Mallia, Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Valletta plc has been re-elected Chairman of the Malta Bank- ers' Association (MBA) for the coming year. His appointment was announced fol- lowing the Asso- ciation's annual general meeting. Mallia reaf- firmed that the MBA has an im- portant role to play in these chal- lenging times for the banking sec- tor, both locally and abroad. He said that he would continue striving for the association to actively facili- tate cooperation and dialogue be- tween its members, the competent authorities and other stakeholders on matters of sectoral interest. In his capacity as MBA Chair- man, Mallia will also be represent- ing the association on the Board of the European Banking Federation. The MBA is a full member of the Federation which is committed to supporting policies that foster eco- nomic growth and jobs, and unites 32 national banking associations in Europe that represent some 4,500 banks employing about 2.1 million people and making loans in excess of €20 trillion available to the European economy. Chris Fearne, Minister for Health with Ana Zammit Munro, Head of Marketing, MAPFRE Middlesea representing Fundacion MAPFRE in Malta BOV CEO appointed MBA Chairman Bank of Valletta CEO Mario Mallia CareMalta CEO Natalie Briffa Farrugia on role change day